163 Account of the Christians on the Malabar Coast. [JvlY 



ed the Archdeacon's prohibition. AccoKJinsrly on tlie day appoint- 

 ed, he ordained thirty seven \oung; nit n. having first made them 

 subscribe to the confession of Pius iv, and take the oath of obedience 

 10 the Pope. 



After this solemnity he went to CnrturtCy where he had determi- 

 ned to pass the holy week. On Palm Sunday high mass was per- 

 formed with great pomp, for the Archbishop, hoping to charm the 

 common people, had sent for the full choir from Cochin. His expec- 

 tations were however entirely disappointed ; for this simple people 

 were more disgusted with the ceremonies of a service which they alrea- 

 dy disliked, in proportion as their external splendor was increased. 

 Havinoj crained over to his party two of the principal Christians 

 of Carlurte, and many of the heathen chiefs in the neighbourhood, 

 he treated with scorn a peremptory message he received from the 

 Queen* of the country commanding him to quit her territories in 

 three days, on pain of death, and advanced with greater boldness in 

 the prosecution of his threat object. The occasional opposition he met 

 with rather inflamed his zeal and was more than counterbalanced 

 bv the accession of many Catanars whom he gained over to his inter- 

 ests by large presents and larger promises. He determined to 

 make one re^^olute effort either to bend the stubborn Archdeacon 

 to his will, or to break with him for ever. Assembling therefore 

 the Catanars who had submitted to his authority, he told them he 

 would no !oMff:er bear with the re6e/Ziort ef the Archdeacon, that 

 he should th^refoie immediately dej)0se him and appoint one of his 

 near relations Tama Curia to succeed him in his office. The Ca- 

 tanars entreated him to allow them some further time to reason with 

 him, and twenty days were granted for that purpose. The next day 

 six of their body were sent to induce him to submit, but all their 

 entreaties were in vain. 



On Edster Eve he held a second ordination, when he conferred 

 orders on many who before had been prevented from applying. On 

 Easter day the heathens, being grievously offended at a solemn 

 procession which he had ordered, hired an infamous Juggler to 

 murder him. The man failed in his attempt, and was condemned 

 by the Queen to be impaled . At the intercession however' of the 

 Archbishop this punishment was remitted, and he was condemned 

 to the gallies at Cochin for life. This circumstance deserves to be 

 noticed as honorable to the character of Menezes, and as shewing 

 ihe great influence which, by some means or other, he had acquired 



* Called by the Portuguese Reina di Pimentaf Qaeen of Pepper. 



